The Beginning:
During a season when kings typically went to war, David remains in Jerusalem while his army fights the Ammonites. From his palace, he sees Bathsheba bathing and learns she is the wife of Uriah, one of David’s soldiers. David sends for her, and she becomes pregnant.
The Middle:
To conceal the situation, David calls Uriah back from the battlefield, hoping he will go home to his wife, but Uriah refuses out of loyalty to his comrades and the war effort. David then sends Uriah back carrying a letter to Joab that effectively orders Uriah’s death by placing him in a dangerous position and withdrawing support. Uriah is killed, and after a period of mourning David takes Bathsheba as his wife—but the narrative states that David’s actions were evil in the LORD’s sight.
The End:
God sends Nathan to confront David with a parable exposing his abuse of power and injustice; David acknowledges, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan declares that God forgives David, yet also announces serious consequences within David’s house. The child born from the affair dies, and David later comforts Bathsheba; she bears Solomon, whom the LORD loves, and Solomon becomes part of the continuing royal line.
This story reveals that covenant kingship does not place a person above God’s moral authority: the LORD sees hidden sin and holds rulers accountable. God’s response combines justice and mercy—David is forgiven when he confesses, yet the real-world consequences of sin still unfold, demonstrating both God’s holiness and the seriousness of wrongdoing. Even amid human failure, God preserves his redemptive purposes, continuing the Davidic line through Solomon, a thread later recognized in the genealogy leading to the Messiah (Matthew 1:6).
Royal palaces in the ancient Near East were commonly built on elevated ground, making rooftop views into nearby courtyards plausible in a dense city like Jerusalem. The narrative also reflects the realities of ancient warfare and command structures: orders transmitted through letters and messengers could determine troop placement and life-or-death outcomes, highlighting how David’s authority was misused to bring about Uriah’s death.
“I have sinned against the LORD.” — 2 Samuel 12:13
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. Why did David call Uriah back from the battlefield?
2. What message did Uriah carry back to Joab?